If you use Gerber in any situaton other than over nt you are severely limiting your bidding choices.

 

Sorry, the last comment was off topic

 

 

Not at all JoAnne

I think the fact that both expert pairs used Michaels convinced her beyond anything anyone here is likely to say in rebuttal.

Point well taken Ian, but not being an "expert" perhaps I keep my game simpler.

I agree that Michaels is not the only way to bid either of the posted hands.  However, the point I was trying to make was that when you do open the big Michaels hand, and partner bids 2NT, then you must do something other than 3 minor to show that you have the big hand.  If the example hands I posted do not fit your criteria for Michaels, then feel free to imagine a big hand with one more club or one less spade or whatever.

 

In the scenario as you have presented it, destiny, I would bid 4c.  You partner has asked a queston - which is your minor.  Give that answer with a jump to show the big hand.   I think responding spades defeats the whole purpose of the michaels bid you used.

 

I wasnt going into the Michaels or not argument...but one thing Marshall Miles argues in his book competitive bidding for the 21st century is with 6 cards in a major and 5 in a minor bid the major - dont use the 2-suited overcall. (He doesnt mind Micheals with 6-5 shapes or even 5-4...but with 6 in a major and 5 in a minor he says bid the major).

 

As an example..

 

Lets say in this hand the bidding went

 

1h-2nt-4h-pass-pass-4s

 

and partner holds...

 

Jx   xx  J109xx Qxxx...and it is MPs.

 

How would they know that 4s is the right spot?

 

Kathie Wei-Sender bid Michaels on the second hand I posted, Spade.  Maybe you should write her and tell her that she is wrong and also that she should play 1H - 2H - Pass - 2NT - Pass - 4C as Gerber.

Also Ross on the hand you gave I think 4S shows a sixth spade -- partner knows you have at least 5 and would have bid 4S himself if that were right when you had 5 spades.